Latest news with #Klinghoffer
American Military News
10 hours ago
- American Military News
Josh Klinghoffer, ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, takes plea deal in fatal collision
Josh Klinghoffer, the former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, accepted a plea deal after facing a vehicular manslaughter charge. Klinghoffer, 45, was charged in the death of Israel Sanchez in March after a collision last year in Alhambra. Klinghoffer was driving a black GMC Yukon at the corner of West Main Street and South Meridian Avenue when he turned left at the intersection while 47-year-old Sanchez was walking in a marked crosswalk. Klinghoffer then struck and killed Sanchez. On Wednesday in court in Alhambra, Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. He was sentenced to 60 days of community labor and one year of informal probation. He will also have to take a driver safety course and pay restitution. During the hearing, the prosecutor told Klinghoffer, 'If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder.' Sanchez's family sued Klinghoffer for wrongful death after the incident, alleging that Klinghoffer was on his phone at the time of the collision. 'Video of the incident shows that defendant Josh Adam Klinghoffer made no braking or slowing motion until after he fatally struck Israel Sanchez, indicating that Defendant was likely driving while distracted.' 'This horrible outcome was foreseeable and demonstrates a willful disregard for the rights and safety of others,' the suit continued. Klinghoffer's attorney in the civil suit, Andrew Brettler, said in a statement to The Times last year, 'After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he's cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.' Klinghoffer played guitar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when longtime guitarist John Frusciante returned. Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2012. He has since performed as a member of Jane's Addiction and Pearl Jam. ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Takes Plea Deal In Manslaughter Case
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Takes Plea Deal In Manslaughter Case originally appeared on Parade. Josh Klinghoffer is best known for his time as the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but what a number of folks don't know is that he's been dealing with a major lawsuit since 2024. The 45-year-old musician took a no-jail plea deal for a vehicular manslaughter charge on Wednesday, May 28, according to a Thursday, May 29 report by People. The outlet noted that Klinghoffer was present in an Alhambra courthouse on Wednesday, where he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence charges. Los Angeles County Judge Rosa Fregoso sentenced the guitarist to one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor, according to Rolling Stone. The outlet also reported that Klinghoffer must pay restitution – which is set to be decided at a later date – and complete a driver safety class as well. The sentencing comes just over a year after Klinghoffer allegedly failed to yield at a crosswalk and accidentally struck and killed 47-year-old Israel Sanchez on March 18, 2022. Officials revealed that the guitarist was driving a black 2022 GMC Yukon and confirmed that Sanchez's death was caused by blunt force trauma. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Sanchez's daughter was also in attendance at the Alhambra courthouse, where she wept as she read her victim impact statement aloud. 'My father was an extraordinary grandfather to my [children],' she said to the courtroom, before she added, 'His absence has left an irreversible void in our lives." She went on to note that her father's death was an 'avoidable loss that has shaken [her] family.' The date for the civil case hearing was set for July 1. Klinghoffer was a part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when John Frusciante – who joined the Peppers in 1988 after the death of their original guitarist Hillel Slovak – returned to the band. The rocker has since joined Pearl Jam as a touring guitarist for the band. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Takes Plea Deal In Manslaughter Case first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer accepts plea deal for fatal accident
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who most recently toured with Pearl Jam, has accepted a plea deal in connection with a car accident that killed a pedestrian last year. Klinghoffer on Wednesday pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, Rolling Stone reported. His plea came as part of a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid prison time. The musician had otherwise been facing one year behind bars. Instead, he was sentenced to one year of informal probation and 60 days of community labor. He also must complete a driver safety class and pay restitution to be determined at a later date. On March 18, 2024, Klinghoffer was driving a black 2022 GMC Yukon in the Los Angles suburb of Alhambra when he fatally struck 47-year-old Israel Sanchez. Video of the accident, obtained by TMZ, shows the SUV making a left turn at the intersection of West Main Street and Meridian Avenue before it hit Sanchez as he attempted to cross the street. Police said Klinghoffer failed to yield, noting that Sanchez was in the crosswalk at the time. He was pronounced dead later that same day, and his cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma. Following Klinghoffer's plea, prosecutors warned the musician against driving while distracted in the future. 'If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder,' they said. The victim's daughter, Ashley Sanchez, also spoke during the hearing. She said her father was the heart of her family. 'My father was an extraordinary grandfather to my [children],' the heartbroken daughter told the court, per Rolling Stone. 'His absence has left an irreversible void in our lives.' Sanchez's family has also filed a wrongful death suit against Klinghoffer, claiming he was on his cellphone and driving a car with no plates when the accident occurred.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Josh Klinghoffer, ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, takes plea deal in fatal collision
Josh Klinghoffer, the former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, accepted a plea deal after facing a vehicular manslaughter charge. Klinghoffer, 45, was charged in the death of Israel Sanchez in March after a collision last year in Alhambra. Klinghoffer was driving a black GMC Yukon at the corner of West Main Street and South Meridian Avenue when he turned left at the intersection while 47-year-old Sanchez was walking in a marked crosswalk. Klinghoffer then struck and killed Sanchez. On Wednesday in court in Alhambra, Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. He was sentenced to 60 days of community labor and one year of informal probation. He will also have to take a driver safety course and pay restitution. During the hearing, the prosecutor told Klinghoffer, 'If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder.' Sanchez's family sued Klinghoffer for wrongful death after the incident, alleging that Klinghoffer was on his phone at the time of the collision. 'Video of the incident shows that defendant Josh Adam Klinghoffer made no braking or slowing motion until after he fatally struck Israel Sanchez, indicating that Defendant was likely driving while distracted.' 'This horrible outcome was foreseeable and demonstrates a willful disregard for the rights and safety of others,' the suit continued. Klinghoffer's attorney in the civil suit, Andrew Brettler, said in a statement to The Times last year, 'After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he's cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.' Klinghoffer played guitar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when longtime guitarist John Frusciante returned. Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2012. He has since performed as a member of Jane's Addiction and Pearl Jam. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Josh Klinghoffer, ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, takes plea deal in fatal collision
Josh Klinghoffer, the former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, accepted a plea deal after facing a vehicular manslaughter charge. Klinghoffer, 45, was charged in the death of Israel Sanchez in March after a collision last year in Alhambra. Klinghoffer was driving a black GMC Yukon at the corner of West Main Street and South Meridian Avenue when he turned left at the intersection while 47-year-old Sanchez was walking in a marked crosswalk. Klinghoffer then struck and killed Sanchez. On Wednesday in court in Alhambra, Klinghoffer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. He was sentenced to 60 days of community labor and one year of informal probation. He will also have to take a driver safety course and pay restitution. During the hearing, the prosecutor told Klinghoffer, 'If you continue to drive while distracted, and as a result of your driving someone is killed, you can be charged with murder.' Sanchez's family sued Klinghoffer for wrongful death after the incident, alleging that Klinghoffer was on his phone at the time of the collision. 'Video of the incident shows that defendant Josh Adam Klinghoffer made no braking or slowing motion until after he fatally struck Israel Sanchez, indicating that Defendant was likely driving while distracted.' 'This horrible outcome was foreseeable and demonstrates a willful disregard for the rights and safety of others,' the suit continued. Klinghoffer's attorney in the civil suit, Andrew Brettler, said in a statement to The Times last year, 'After Josh struck this pedestrian in the intersection, he immediately pulled over, stopped the car, called 911 and waited until police and the ambulance arrived. Obviously, he's cooperating with the police throughout the traffic investigation. This was purely a tragic accident.' Klinghoffer played guitar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, when longtime guitarist John Frusciante returned. Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2012. He has since performed as a member of Jane's Addiction and Pearl Jam.
